Tennis Posts Strong Performances at League Singles and Doubles
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Jane Sadler and Kendall Spector reached the final of the Delta River League Super Doubles Thursday before dropping a three-set decision to Rachel Leibrach and Teia Chalamcharla of Oak Ridge 2-6, 7-6, 6-4.
“They started off on fire to win the first set 6-2 and lost in a tiebreaker in the second set,” said Head Coach Kristi Spector. “They never gave up their composure or their hope. They played the best tennis they have played all season. They played unbelievable.”
St. Francis and Oak Ridge met in the finals of every singles and doubles final over the two day event.
“St. Francis played stronger and stronger in every match,” said Spector.
The St. Francis duo advanced with two wins to reach the final. They will represent St. Francis in the section individual playoffs No. 7-8.
Martina Penalosa and Christina Marengo won the No. 1 doubles bracket Tuesday with a 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 win over Kim and Williams from Oak Ridge. Micah Dial and Abby Benvenuti lost in three sets in the No. 2 doubles final 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 to Oak Ridge’s Heather Dunham and Emily Abraham. In the No. 3 doubles bracket, Marcela Sosa and Alyse Andre advanced to the finals before losing to Ashley Gonzales and Kelly McMillian 6-4, 5-7, 6-3.
Avery Spector reached the final of the Super Singles on Tuesday, earning a berth in the Sac-Joaquin Individual Section playoffs Nov. 7-8. She won two matches earlier in the day to advance to the final against Oak Ridge’s Madeline Almeida. She beat Oak Ridge’s No. 2 player Rachel Leibraach in the semifinals, posting the first win against her this season.
“Avery handled her unbelievably,” said Spector of the match in the semis.
She lost in the finals to Almeida, a top-10 ranked player in the northern California.
“The score was not indicative of the match,” said Spector. “It was a great match and she should be very proud of herself.”
The Troubadours also reached the final in four other singles brackets. Jane Sadler was a finalist in the No. 3 singles bracket, Anna Kropf reached the final at No. 4 singles, Perneet Powar advanced at No. 5 singles and Eden Elliott competed in the No. 6 singles finals.
Senior Kendall Sadler was eliminated in the semifinals to Almeida in the Super Singles. She won a comeback effort against Carinn Candelaria of Pleasant Grove 2-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-3).
The Troubadours drew a No. 2 seed in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Championships, facing Turlock, the No. 1 seed from the Central California Conference. The match will take place at Turlock on Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 2 p.m.